Cell Therapy for Lower Limb Ulcers in Patients With Critical Limb Ischemia

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) can progress to critical limb ischemia (CLI) of the affected lower limb, characterized by pain at rest, ulcerations or gangrene, with a high risk of amputation. In this phase, the best treatment is arterial limb revascularization, but this is not always possible or even effective for promoting pain relief, healing of ulcers or preventing amputations, in addition to the high socioeconomic cost caused by the disease. Recent advances in cell therapy represent a promising supporting alternative for the treatment of PAD in cases where conventional alternatives have run out. Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of cell therapy with expanded autologous mesenchymal stem cells in the treatment of patients with PAD with CLI and chronic arterial ulcers. Methods: An open randomized clinical study will be performed with 2 groups of 20 patients with CLI: in group 1, a fragment of abdominal fat tissue (10g) will be collected to obtain mesenchymal stem cells, which will be expanded and applied using subcutaneous perilesional injection in the affected lower limb, in addition to the application in the form of a personalized curative biological on the wounds. Group 2 will receive conventional treatment with a Hydrogel dressing with essential fatty acids. Periodic clinical evaluations, complementary exams and photographic record will be carried out. The main outcome of effectiveness will be partial or total wound healing. Safety outcomes will be monitored for infections, gangrene, amputations and deaths. Participants will be monitored for 120 days. Major amputation cases will not be included. An independent external evaluator and blind to the groups will evaluate the results. It is an innovative procedure with high impact and financial return for SUS, in view of the high prevalence of the disease and the high socioeconomic impact of the disease when it progresses to limb amputation.